I want to Ride my Bicycle

As the fares of public transportation keep going up, the thought of cycling around the city seems to get more appealing each time.

The number of bicycles on the roads are increasing, with foreign workers making up quite a significant number. Cycling seems to be getting really popular as a sport. Heck, even my mum cycles now. It is convenient, cheap, environmentally friendly and healthy! Okay, maybe not so convenient, as Singapore isn't exactly bike friendly. We do not have enough places to park our bikes, the roads are too busy and thus making them dangerous to cyclists. I feel that it is not entirely about road awareness on the cyclist's part. Cars are getting bigger, there are more cars on the roads on than ever, certainly, those factors do not make the roads safe enough for peddlers.

Perhaps it is really time to consider specially designated lanes for bicycles. A lot of cities around the world have those, shouldn't we start too? Singapore may be small, and some argue that there isn't enough space for a bike lane. If busy cities are doing it (some successfully), are trying to do it, why not us? It is time, we shouldn't wait for more deaths on the roads to motivate us into seriously considering this as an option.



Cycling on pavements is not allowed in Singapore, even though loads of

people are doing it. As a pedestrian, I have never complained when are there cyclists on the pavement. It beats having them on the roads. Our pavements are not exactly wide in most areas, most times we would give way. I don't see why that can't work. But to encourage more folks to take to biking, more has to be done. I know vaguely, that there is some project going on in Pasir Ris where they have cyclists cycling on the pavement together with the pedestrians. I hope that will turn out well.

We need bike lanes or the very least, wider pavements, more bicycle parking facilities, and of course, a safer place to bike in. Hopefully, trains would finally allow all bicycles and not just the fold-able ones on trains too. Our transport system should be as integrated as it could be to make travelling less of a hassle.

I know I would pick up cycling again when that happens.